Exterior-operated breech door

ABSTRACT

A communicating passage for submersible vessels in which a chamber has an entranceway and a closure door therefor with the operative structures for the door being exterior of the door and the chamber for moving the door between open and closed positions.

[ 1 Feb. 22, 1972 United States Patent Cohen [S4] EXTERIOR-OPERATED BREECH DOOR [72] Inventor: Paul Cohen, Glen Cove, N.Y.

14/238 Witherspoon et 14/1 19 X [73] Assignee: Subcom lnc., Glen Cove, NY. [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 30,895

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorney--Bauer & Amer Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 848,419, Aug. 8,

ABSTRACT A communicating passage for submersible vessels in which a chamber has an entranceway and a closure door therefor with the operative structures for the door being exterior of the door 8/00 1363b 19/00 and the chamber for moving the door between open and 114/ 16 R, 16.4, 16.6, 238, closed positions 114/119, 120', 89/31; 49/246, 250

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10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PMENTEBFEB22IBIZ $843,615.

SHEETIUFB INVENTOR PAUL COHEN eyguw ilaw ATTORNEYS PAIENTE0FEB22 I972 sum 2 or 3 FIG.5

IN-VENTOR PAUL. COHEN ATTORNEYS PATENTEBreazz I972 SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG. 6,

. INVENTOR PAUL COHEN Y mm ATTORNEYS EXTERIOR-OPERATED BREECI-I DOOR This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my copending application Ser. No. 848,419, filed on Aug. 8, 1969, entitled A Communicating Passage for Submersible Vessels for which all legal and equitable benefits are claimed.

The present invention relates to a breech door and, in particular, to an improved interior breech door for use in securing the mouth or entranceway of communicating passages of deep submersible vessels.

In the aforementioned application there is disclosed a breech door which is mounted internally of a tubular passage, extending between the hull and the outer shell of the vessel, and which is closable in the direction of the external pressure of the sea. The door seats against a jamb formed in'the mouth of the passage and is automatically actuable by motive and lever mechanisms to be opened out of the area of the passageway and into a spherical housing superimposed thereon where it is stored substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. As explained in great detail in that application, the construction has numerous advantages among which are (a) the fact that the door does not open into the cabin area, freeing much space for movement of the crew; (b) the pressure of the sea helps keep the door closed, insuring integrity of the closure even if the exterior door of the passage is opened; and (c) the door is stored completely out of the way of the passage itself allowing the entire area of the'passage to be used.

The door-actuating mechanism comprising, as an example, hydraulic motive means, levers, etc., are arranged within the interior of the passage and preferably within the spherical dome receiving the door. In this manner, the mechanisms too are hidden and removed from the passageway or the cabin. This arrangement does have considerable advantage; however, because submersibles are inherently dangerous vessels, they must be maintained at the peak of efficiency and operability. To do so requires frequent and periodic maintenance checks, replacement of worn part and minor adjustments and repairs, all of which must on occasion be done while the vessel is submerged. In actual practice, hiding the actuating mechanism within the passage is not conducive to quick and efficient maintenance checks or repair, particularly under submerged conditions. Furthermore, the tube must be emptied and the repairman must enter the tube to effect the repair.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a breech door construction the operating parts of which are more readily accessible.

It is, however, the continued object of this invention to provide a breech door, openable outwardly of the cabin; closable with external sea pressure; and when opened being completely removed from the cabin and the mouth or entranceway of the passage and the chamber formed with the passage.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a breech door having a novel hinge mechanism which moves the door inwardly of the passage entranceway without swinging movement and places it out of the path of the passage, and in which the actuating mechanisms are readily accessible and available for maintenance checks or repair from the vessels cabin, whether the door is opened or closed.

To effect the present invention, a construction similar to that disclosed in my aforementioned application is employed in which a breech door is movable into and out of sealing engagement with a cooperating door jamb defining the entranceway located at the mouth of a breech passage. The door is movable from the engaging closed position to an open position that occupies normally unusable space within a spherical chamber or housing formed with the passage. According the present invention, the actuating mechanism including the motive means and linkages are located and mounted outside the passage and chamber so as to be readily accessible.

Full and complete details together with illustrative examples of the advantages and objects of the present invention are set forth in the following description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view'of a communicating passage tube and breech door, showing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the interior end of a breech door taken along line 22 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the door shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the door shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a end view of the door shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

The full disclosure and description contained in my copending application as aforesaid is incorporated herein by reference as if more fully set forth. This is done to avoid repetition of general subject matter and to maintain the present disclosure as concise and brief as possible. Briefly, however, the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a breech door B, having a hinge mechanism A located at the interior mouthof a passage T. The passage T extends between the interior hull H and the exterior shell S. The exterior mouth of the passage is provided with a conventional lid L. The breech door B is movable into the spherical dome D. The dome D and passage T may be said to form a chamber or housing (not numbered) which may be used to contain or house various items for use in a submersible.

Turning to FIG. 2, the inner end of the tube T is provided with an outwardly facing frame or jamb 12 having a tapered seating edge 14 and a resilient gasket 16. Since the tube is cylindrical, the jamb l2, edge 14 and gasket 16 are circular. However, it will be obvious that other cross-sectional passages and associated members can be utilized. The breech door B can be disk shaped as shown, or of spherical or other curved section to reduce weight as is conventional in seagoing vessels, and its periphery is furnished with an angularly tapered edge 18 conforming to the seating edge 14. Both the jamb 12 and the breech door B are somewhat larger in diameter than the tube T itself and, accordingly, while the jamb 12 is integrally formed within the tube T, the end of the tube forms a shoulder 10 spaced from the seating edge 14. The shoulder 10 is somewhat tapered oppositely to the taper on the seating edge 14 for a purpose to be described hereafter.

It has been noted that the door B is movable upwardly into a domed chamber D which is preferably spherical in shape having a substantial radius, and is integrally attached to the exterior wall of the tube T and of the hull H. To accommodate the movement of the breech door B into the domed chamber D, a segment of the upper section of the tube T is foreshortened at an angle to the door jamb 12 to end at a longitudinal point 20 which is provided with a transverse roller R. Thus, there is provided a cutout transverse arcuate aperture 22 between the tube T and the dome D. While the tube T is thus opened to the dome D, it will be observed that the pressure integrity of the tube T is not violated since the dome D is integrally formed with it and with the hull II. A spherical dome is to be preferred since its structure is best suited to resist high pressure differentials; however, other forms such as ellipses may be used if desired.

The door B is lifted into the dome D by the mechanism A which is located within the cabin to the interior of the hull H and which comprises a first lever arm 24 connected with a second lever arm 26, the latter of which extends from the piston or ram of a vertically arrangedhydraulic cylinder 28. The first lever arm 24 is pivotally connected by extending pins 30 to a split yoke fitting 32 secured at the lower end of the breech door B. While the dome D and cylinder 28 are shown arranged vertically, it will be obvious that they may be arranged at any position provided they are substantially radially positioned with respect to the axis of the tube T.

The hydraulic cylinder 28 is pivotally connected at its uppermost end 33 to a bipod bracket 34 which is welded or otherwise fixed to the tube T, dome D or hull H as may be desired. Mounted'substantially midway along the cylinder 28 is a second hydraulic motor comprising a piston lever arm 36 and cylinder 38. The piston lever arm 36 is pivotally mounted to the vertical cylinder 28 while the cylinder 38 is mounted to the dome D so as to assume a generally horizontal piston substantially perpendicular to the vertical cylinder 28 and substantially parallel to the tube T.

Preferably the hydraulic motors 28 and 38 are double-acting push-pull type cylinders and pistons similar to those shown in FIG. 7 of the copending application which under selective operation cause the levers 26 and 36 respectively to be retracted or extended. The operation to move the door B is also basically as described in my copending application providing for the double movement of the door first to lock or unlock the door from the jamb and secondly to cause the door to move into and out of storage position.

As seen in FIG. 1, the door B is shown in closed position (solid lines) with its tapered edge 18 sealed tightly against the edge 14 and in fluid tight engagement with the seal 16 of the frame 12 and resting within the groove formed by the shoulder which guides the door into closed seating position. The hydraulic motor 38 is first actuated to pull in the vertical cylinder 28. As this is done, the upper edge of the door B is pushed from the frame 12 by arm 24 and its opposite outer flat face moves toward and into abutment with the roller R. (It is assumed, of course, that when this is done all water had first been removed from passage T and its pressure is made to conform to that inside the cabin.) Thereafter, the motor 28 is activated. The lever arms 24 and 26 are then retracted lifting the upper edge of the door B through aperture 22 into the dome D. As both motor means 38 and 28 continue their progressive operations the door B remains engaged with and rides on the roller R and is this guided for movement into the domed chamber D as seen by the dotted lines.

At this stage the various advantages obtained with construction of the copending application are also obtained here. For example, it is obvious that the door B will swing freely within the confines of the tube T and dome structure D. Further, the door swings, not within the working cabin of the vessel, but within the chamber or dome in what would otherwise be dead space. The cabin space is, therefore, freed for more useful purposes. The door B swings completely into the dome and away from the entrance to the tube T and, consequently, cannot interfere with either the men or articles being loaded therein. It is also noted that in the open position, the pistons 26 and36 are fully retracted and are also removed from the mouth of the tube T.

When the door B is to be closed, the reverse operation is effected. Namely, the hydraulic motor 28 is actuated to extend the lever arm 24 downwardly. Immediately thereafter, motor 38 is activated. As a result, the door B again rolls on and is guided by the roller R until its bottom front tapered edge moves into the V-shaped groove formed by the edge 14 and shoulder 10. The upper end of the door B tips upward and the door moves into proximity of the frame 12. At this state, the continued operation of hydraulic motor 38 causes the piston 36 to extend and to pull the door B firmly into seating fluid tight engagement against the frame 12 as a consequence of which the conforming taper edges 14 and 18 of the frame and door respectively sea]. It is now noted that the V-shaped groove formed by the edge 14 and shoulder 10 on the periphery of the tube functions to insure that the door is well seated against the frame or jamb 12 and forces the door into its correct closed position. Water may then be admitted to the tube T and whatever article placed therein removed by opening the outer lid as previously described.

Here, too, the former advantages are again obvious. For ex ample, it is noted that the door B closes in the direction of the sea water pressure, i.e., from outside inwardly of the vessel. Consequently, the pressure of the water acts on the door B to effect an even greater sealing than provided by the lever mechanism A itself. In fact, the greater the pressure of the sea water, the greater the seal created between door B and jamb 12 providing a fail-safe factor.

The present construction provides its own unique advantages. The door-actuating mechanism is conveniently and accessibly located in front of the breech door where they may be observed, given maintenance checks, and repairs. The door need not be opened to gain access to the actuating apparatus nor does the pressure integrity of the passage have to be violated in order to effect any of the above. These features are critical when the vessel is deeply submerged and when it is undergoing serious and hazardous maneuvers. The actuating mechanism is simple, requiring only two conventional doubleacting hydraulic cylinders.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 there is seen a modification of the construction shown in FIGS. l-3, withthe same parts identified by'like, but primed numerals. While all the parts of the construction are the same, the modified form shown in these latter figures provide for the location of the fulcrum, i.e., the connection 30", 32 between lever arm 26' and the door to be located more centrally of the door. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the fulcrum is located just below the center of the door B and the second cylinder 38', rather than being substantially horizontal, is angularly offset. A third difference lies in the fact that a helical twist spring 40 is provided for connection about the pins 30' and interacting with the yoke 32 to spring load the door to cause it to rotate toward engagement with the roller R immediately upon being opened.

In operation, the movement is still the same as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; however, as soon as the fluidtight engagement or lock between the door and jamb is broken by the operation of motor 38', spring 40 causes the door to rotate about the pin 30' toward engagement with the roller R. As the door is carried upward by the operation of motor 28' and the retraction of lever 24' the spring further rotates the door into full sliding engagement with and for movement about the roller R. The continued operation of motors 38 and 28 fully lift and slide the door out of the aperture of the door frame 12' with the door being guided by the lever arm 24 as it moves through the aperture and as the door slides over the guiding roller. Also, as in the prior embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the door is housed out of the path or opening of the tube T within the protection of the chamber or dome D. Again, as in the prior embodiment, the door is closed by a reverse operation with the urging of the spring 40 overcome by the operation of the motor 38'.

The modified construction of FIGS. 4 and 5 has the added advantage, over the form shown in FIGS. 13, in that the door B can be moved to its stored position (dotted lines) with a shorter stroke hydraulic cylinder 28' and piston 26'. Consequently, the overall height of the unit may be reduced. A second advantage arises in that by selectively locating the fulcrum connection, the are made by the door as it moves into the dome can be varied, so that the radius and also the shape of the dome can be changed. In consequence, where the diameter or size of the tube and its entrance 12 or its clearance or available working space as indicated by the position of the rollers R or R is not critical, the configuration of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 may be utilized, but when such details are critical the shorter stroke and movement of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is adaptable.

There are submersibles whose pressure hulls are composed of interconnecting spheres or chambers, more commonly utilized in oceanographic exploration. Among interconnecting spheres or chambers are lock-in, lockout type chambers which permit movement of personnel to and from submersible by passing through such chambers that may be in the form of independent pressurized cabins. Such spheres or chambers are necessarily small in size and provide cramped quarters for the occupants. Hence, space is at a premium and must be utilized with extreme care.

The present invention is unusually well adapted for these purposes. The embodiment of FIG. 6 illustrates a typical lockin, lockout type chamber wherein the dome member D may be connected with another pressure hull H by a door B. In this case, the door B is required to be moved into a position or location that is in a normally unused area and that does not interfere with the occupant of the chamber or dome D so as to permit the free and unfettered movement of the occupant to and from the hull. The present disengagement is utilized in substantially the same manner as previously described with respect to the prior disclosed embodiments. The hinge mechanism generally identified by the letter A comprises a construction substantially as disclosed previously except that the arm 24 is angled slightly upward to obtain the maximum movement of the door B into the dashline position as shown in FIG. 6. so dashlines The operation of the hinge mechanism A is as previously described. The disengagment of the door B from its sealed relationship with the jamb 12 is accomplished by operating the motor means 38. This places the top of the door B into engagement with the lowermost one of the series of rollers R. Three such rollers are shown; however, any number of rollers may be utilized to guide the movement of the door B to and from its inactive open dashline position. As the door B is lifted by the subsequent sequential operation of the motor means 28 in the manner as previously described, the door is caused to be guided in its movement by the rollers R os that it assumes a position as indicated by the dash-lines in FIG. 6.

It will be recognized that this position occupies the least possible space in the chamber or dome D so as to be free of interference with the occupant of such space, yet permits the occupant to move freely to and from the dome or chamber D and the hull H. When it is desired to permit the occupant of the chamber or dome D to pass beyond the submersible and into the surrounding water, the door B is closed by reversing the aforedescribed operation. An outer door L is then opened permitting the occupant to move freely into and out of the chamber D without affecting the watertight integrity of the hull H. Thus, it is not always necessary that the chamber D be formed as part of a tube, but rather, it may constitute an independent, self-contained housing. In such uses, the present in vention occupies almost no room in the interior of the chamber and the door B may be selectively guided in its movement merely by controlling the placement of the rollers R within the chamber so the door will use the least obstructing space. The positioning of the actuating mechanism A outside the chamber D, but to operate the door within the chamber, reduces space requirements within the chamber and affords the occupant much more room in otherwise very cramped quarters.

Although it is common practice to form the breech door B circular in shape to provide for an exacting fluid-type fit between it and the jamb, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention need not be so limited. It is entirely within the contemplation of the invention that the door and its mating jamb may be of other desired shapes. Thus, they may be congruently oval, trapezoidal or of other contours. It may be impossible to insert a circular door into the chamber D of FIG. 6 in the event the entranceway for the lid L is insufficiently large to enable the insertion of the door B therethrough for engagement with its mating jamb. Thus, if the door B and its mating jamb are other than circular in shape, the door may be twisted 90 off axis, inserted through the entranceway and then placed in position for mating engagement with its jamb.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed:

1. In a submersible,

a tube having a door closing an opening at an end thereof,

an enlargement forming a contiguous extension of the tube adjacent the end thereof to receive said door when the same is open and out of the path of the tube,

operable means connected with said door to move the same between positions to open and close the tube open end, means on said door and tube cooperable to form a fluid seal between said door and tube when said door is in closed osition,

said operable means mounted exterior of said tube opening and said enlargement and including means movable through and into said tube opening to cause said door initially to move into said tube away from said tube opening to open said fluid seal and to move said door substantially radially in said tube out of its respective end of said tube and into the confines of said enlargement.

2. In a submersible as in claim 1,

an aperture defined between said enlargement and tube to provide a passage for the movement of said door between its open and closed positions.

3. In a submersible as in claim 2,

wherein said operable means comprises a first lever pivotally connected to said door and movable vertically in front of said tube to elevate said door,

a second lever pivotally connected to said first lever and movable in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tube, and including motive means for selectively reciprocating said levers to effect the opening and closing of said door.

4. In a submersible as in claim 3,

wherein said motive means comprises a hydraulic cylinder,

and said levers comprise the pistons therefor.

5. The submersible as in claim 4,

wherein said first lever is mounted to the outer face of said door eccentric of the center thereof.

6. A closure mechanism for a tubular walled passage comprising a frame facing inwardly of said passage,

an aperture within the wall of said passage adjacent said frame,

a door movable through said aperture into and out of sealing engagement with said frame,

means for moving said door comprising a first motive means having a lever arm extending therefrom one end of which is pivotally secured to the outer face of said door,

a second motive means having a lever arm extending therefrom and secured to said first motive means,

said motive means being actuable to reciprocate said lever arms,

and means for selectively actuating said motive means to effect the opening of said door by the sequential breaking of the seal and movement of said door substantially radially outwardly of said tube and the closing of said door by reversal thereof.

7. A closure mechanism according to claim 6,

wherein said first motive means comprises a cylinder pivotally mounted from one end to extend radially in front of said door and a piston pivotally connected to said door eccentric of its center through its respective lever arm,

the second motive means comprises a pivotally mounted cylinder having a piston pivotally connected to said first cylinder through its respective lever arm, whereby the operation of said first and second motive means causes the lever arm of said first motive means to move into and out of the aperture with the opening and closing of said door.

8. The closure mechanism according to claim 7 including roller means disposed adjacent the aperture in the wall of said passage to be engaged by and guide the door to slide thereover during movement thereof.

9. The closure mechanism according to claim 8 including spring means for normally biasing the pivotal connection between the lever arm of said first motive means and said door, to cause said door toward engagement with said roller means.

10. The closure mechanism according to claim 9 including a housing disposed over the aperture and the lever arms for receiving said door when the same is moved out of sealing engagement. 

1. In a submersible, a tube having a door closing an opening at an end thereof, an enlargement forming a contiguous extension of the tube adjacent the end thereof to receive said door when the same is open and out of the path of the tube, operable means connected with said door to move the same between positions to open and close the tube open end, means on said door and tube cooperable to form a fluid seal between said door and tube when said door is in closed position, said operable means mounted exterior of said tube opening and said enlargement and including means movable through and into said tube opening to cause said door initially to move into said tube away from said tube opening to open said fluid seal and to move said door substantially radially in said tube out of its respective end of said tube and into the confines of said enlargement.
 2. In a submersible as in claim l, an aperture defined between said enlargement and tube to provide a passage for the movement of said door between its open and closed positions.
 3. In a submersible as in claim 2, wherein said operable means comprises a first lever pivotally connected to said door and movable vertically in front of said tube to elevate said door, a second lever pivotally connected to said first lever and movable in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tube, and including motive means for selectively reciprocating said levers to effect the opening and closing of said door.
 4. In a submersible as in claim 3, wherein said motive means comprises a hydraulic cylinder, and said levers comprise the pistons therefor.
 5. The submersible as in claim 4, wherein said first lever is mounted to the outer face of said door eccentric of the center thereof.
 6. A closure mechanism for a tubular walled passage comprising a frame facing inwardly of said passage, an aperture within the wall of said passage adjacent said frame, a door movable through said aperture into and out of sealing engagement with saiD frame, means for moving said door comprising a first motive means having a lever arm extending therefrom one end of which is pivotally secured to the outer face of said door, a second motive means having a lever arm extending therefrom and secured to said first motive means, said motive means being actuable to reciprocate said lever arms, and means for selectively actuating said motive means to effect the opening of said door by the sequential breaking of the seal and movement of said door substantially radially outwardly of said tube and the closing of said door by reversal thereof.
 7. A closure mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said first motive means comprises a cylinder pivotally mounted from one end to extend radially in front of said door and a piston pivotally connected to said door eccentric of its center through its respective lever arm, the second motive means comprises a pivotally mounted cylinder having a piston pivotally connected to said first cylinder through its respective lever arm, whereby the operation of said first and second motive means causes the lever arm of said first motive means to move into and out of the aperture with the opening and closing of said door.
 8. The closure mechanism according to claim 7 including roller means disposed adjacent the aperture in the wall of said passage to be engaged by and guide the door to slide thereover during movement thereof.
 9. The closure mechanism according to claim 8 including spring means for normally biasing the pivotal connection between the lever arm of said first motive means and said door, to cause said door toward engagement with said roller means.
 10. The closure mechanism according to claim 9 including a housing disposed over the aperture and the lever arms for receiving said door when the same is moved out of sealing engagement. 